What's so great about Franz Schubert?
Franz Schubert excelled in every musical genre, writing string quartets that can be set beside the greatest of Haydn and Mozart, symphonies that stand comparison with Beethoven, and works for piano that paved the way for Schumann and Chopin.
What is Franz Schubert's nickname?
Franz Schubert was only a small man; five foot, one inch and a little overweight; one of the nicknames used by his friends was 'Schwammerl" (little mushroom); the other was 'Kanevas' - apparently he always asked of new acquaintances, 'Kann er was?' (What can he do?). He also suffered from a stammer and walked with a shuffle.
How did Franz Schubert make money?
Schubert as a drifter. So in 1816, when he decided to quit his father’s school, but failed to get the post of kappelmeister at Laibach, he decided to move in with a friend, Schober, and his mom. At first he half-heartedly attempted to make an income by teaching music lessons and not be a bum at his friend’s house.
What is the most famous work of Franz Schubert?
This practice wasn’t at all common in the Classical era. Schubert wrote over 600 Lieder in his lifetime, one of the most famous being the Erlkonig. He was one of the first composers to create “images” with piano, such as a galloping horse in Erlkonig. His use of harmony was very ahead of his time for a late-Classical, early-Romantic composer.
Is Schubert a baroque?
Franz Schubert's music was not considered Baroque. The Baroque period of music was from 1600 to 1750 and preceded the Classical period. Schubert was born in 1797 and his music was considered late Classical and early Romantic in style and characteristics.
Is Schubert Romantic or classical?
Franz Schubert is considered the last of the classical composers and one of the first romantic ones. His music is notable for its memorable melodies and rich harmonies. He wrote extensively for the voice, composing more than 600 vocal works in his lifetime.
How did Schubert influence the Romantic era?
Died: Vienna, November 19, 1828 Schubert's music neatly bridges the Classical and Romantic periods through its use of lovely melodies, inventive scoring, and nature imagery, wedded to the traditional classical forms while at the same time expanding them.
What is Franz Schubert famous for?
Franz Schubert (1797–1828) was an Austrian romantic composer and although he died at the age of 31, he was a prolific composer, having written some 600 lieder and nine symphonies.
What is lieder romantic era?
Lieder are particularly related to the romantic period. At this time, the work of German poets, such as Goethe, were often set to music. Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms all composed lieder. Common poetic themes are love, longing and the beauty of nature.
What is classical vs Romantic?
Pirsig divides human understanding into two types: classical understanding and romantic understanding. Pirsig writes, “A classical understanding sees the world primarily as underlying form itself. A romantic understanding sees it primarily in terms of immediate appearance.” beauty or art and are led by their feelings.
Who started the Romantic era of music?
BeethovenBeethoven pioneered Romanticism and expanded previously strict formulas for symphonies and sonatas, and introduced a whole new approach to music, giving his works references to other aspects of life - for example, his 'Pastoral' Symphony No. 6 describes countryside scenes.
What influenced the Romanticism era?
With its emphasis on the imagination and emotion, Romanticism emerged as a response to the disillusionment with the Enlightenment values of reason and order in the aftermath of the French Revolution of 1789.
Who is the most famous composer during Romantic era?
Top 10 Romantic composersFryderyck Chopin (1810-49)Robert Schumann (1810-56)Franz Liszt (1811-86)Richard Wagner (1813-83)Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)Anton Bruckner (1824-96)Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-93)More items...•
Is Schubert better than Beethoven?
There is absolutely no doubt that Schubert dominates here. By all measures he is the greatest song-writer of all time. He takes a simple musical form and turns it into something far greater... not unlike Beethoven's achievement with the solo piano sonata.
Was Schubert a Beethoven fan?
Once a stern critic of German music, Franz Schubert became passionate devotee of Beethoven later in life, so much so that he asked on his deathbed to be buried with his idol.
Who did Schubert get syphilis?
Sometime in the late summer of 1822, the 25 year-old Schubert contracted syphilis during a nocturnal pleasure jaunt with his friend and partner-in-sexual-crime, Franz von Schober.
What was Schubert's compositional style?
Some of his music—particularly his earlier instrumental compositions—tends toward a more classical approach. However, the melodic and harmonic innovation in his art songs and later instrumental works sit more firmly in the Romantic tradition.
What is the genre of an Sylvia by Franz Schubert?
"An Sylvia", D 891; Op. 106, No. 4, is a Lied for voice and piano composed by Franz Schubert in 1826 and published in 1828.
Is Vivaldi Romantic or classical?
He is considered one of the greatest classical composers, alongside George Frideric Handel, Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and others.
Is Debussy Romantic or classical?
Next up on our musical trip back in time is Claude Debussy, a Late-Romantic French composer of the late 19th and early 20th century most associated with Impressionism.
Who was Franz Schubert?
Franz Schubert was a 19th-century Austrian music composer and key figure in bridging the Classical and Romantic periods. He is noted for the melody...
What was Franz Schubert’s early life like?
Franz Schubert was born on January 31, 1797, near Vienna, Austria. He was one of five children of Franz Theodor and Elisabeth Schubert. Schubert re...
What changes did Franz Schubert make to classical harmony?
Franz Schubert purposefully disavowed modulation via the smooth succession of pivot chords. He preferred to drop suddenly into unrelated, and there...
What are some of Franz Schubert’s most famous compositions?
Franz Schubert is best remembered for his songs—also called lieder—and his chamber music. He also created symphonies, masses, and piano works. His...
How did Franz Schubert die?
In October 1828 Franz Schubert developed typhoid fever as a resulting of drinking tainted water. He spent his last days in the company of his broth...
What is Franz Schubert known for?
Franz Schubert was a 19th-century Austrian music composer and key figure in bridging the Classical and Romantic periods. He is noted for the melody and harmony in his songs and chamber music. He also produced several symphonies, masses, and piano works.
What operas did Schubert write?
During 1815 Schubert also continued to be preoccupied with his ill-fated operas: between May and December he wrote Der vierjährige Posten ( A Sentry for Four Years ), Fernando, Claudine von Villa Bella, and Die Freunde von Salamanka ( The Friends of Salamanca ). At this time Schubert’s outward life was uneventful.
How did Franz Schubert die?
In October 1828 Franz Schubert developed typhoid fever as a resulting of drinking tainted water. He spent his last days in the company of his brother and several close friends. He died on November 19, 1828, in Vienna, Austria. He was 31 years old.
What instrument did Schubert play?
Schubert played the violin in the students’ orchestra, was quickly promoted to leader, and in Ruzicka’s absence conducted. He also attended choir practice and, with his fellow pupils, cultivated chamber music and piano playing.
What was Schubert's first composition?
His earliest works included a long Fantasia for Piano Duet, a song, several orchestral overtures, various pieces of chamber music, and three string quartets.
How long did Schubert study privately with Salieri?
In 1812 Schubert’s voice broke; he left the college but continued his studies privately with Salieri for at least another three years.
Why was Franz Schubert rejected for military service?
Rejected for military service because of his short stature, he continued as a schoolmaster until 1818. Franz Schubert's “Gretchen am Spinnrade” (“Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel”), D. 118; from a 1952 recording by soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and pianist Edwin Fischer.
Who Was Franz Schubert?
Composer Franz Schubert received a thorough musical education and won a scholarship to boarding school. Although he was never rich, the composer's work gained recognition and popularity, noted for bridging classical and romantic composition. He died in 1828 in Vienna, Austria.
Early Life
Born on January 31, 1797, in Himmelpfortgrund, Austria, Franz Peter Schubert demonstrated an early gift for music. As a child, his talents included an ability to play the piano, violin and organ. He was also an excellent singer.
Early Compositions
Schubert worked as a schoolmaster for the next four years. But he also continued to compose music. In fact, between 1813 and 1815, Schubert proved to be a prolific songwriter. By 1814, the young composer had written a number of piano pieces, and had produced string quartets, a symphony, and a three-act opera.
Maturity
His fortunes began to change in 1821, when, with the help of some friends, he began offering his songs on a subscription basis. Money started coming his way. In Vienna especially, Schubert's harmonious songs and dances were popular. Across the city, concert parties called Schubertiaden sprung up in the homes of wealthy residents.
Later Years and Death
In 1826, Schubert applied for the job of deputy musical director at the Stadtkonvikt. While certainly a top candidate, he failed to land the job. Still, his fortunes during this period began to improve. His impressive musical output continued, and his popularity in Vienna increased. He was even in negotiations with four different publishers.
Legacy
It was only after Schubert's passing that his musical genius received the kind of recognition it deserved. His talent lay in is ability to adapt to almost any kind of musical form. His vocal contributions, more than 500 in all, were written for male and female voices, as well as mixed voices.
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What was Schubert's late life output?
Prolific late-life output: Schubert struggled with health problems for much of his life, but he maintained a robust musical output. Toward the end of Schubert’s life, public critics like the influential Ignaz von Sonnleithner took notice of him as an innovator.
What is the name of Schubert's third song?
Curious listeners can begin their exploration of Franz Schubert’s music with these essential pieces. "Ellens dritter Gesang" (D. 839): Translated to English as "Ellen's Third Song" and more commonly known as "Ave Maria,” this song has become a classic over the years since Schubert composed it in 1825.
How old was Schubert when he started writing?
Prolific teenage composer: Schubert began composing prolifically at the age of 17. Notable works from his teenage years include his Mass No. 1 (D. 105), nine liturgical works, well over 100 Deutsche lieder (German songs), and a symphony.
What is Schubert's adaptation of the poem?
Schubert also wrote a German lied based on the same poem. "Gesang der Geister über den Wassern": Schubert’s adaptation of a Goethe poem for octet features male vocals and low strings. Fantasia in F minor (D. 940): Schubert completed this piano duet for four hands in the last year of his life.
What era did Schubert compose?
Schubert composed at the tail-end of the Classical era, a stylistic period in European classical music that lasted from the 1730s through the 1820s. Along with his fellow Classical-era composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Joseph Haydn, and Ludwig van Beethoven, Schubert established customs and musical language that classical musicians continue ...
What is Schubert's most famous work?
Despite being personally agnostic, he also wrote numerous liturgical works—the most famous of which is "Ellens dritter Gesang" (D. 839), known for its "Ave Maria" refrain. Attempts at opera, such as Alfonso und Estrella (with lyrics by Schubert's friend Franz von Schober), earned less contemporary recognition.
What is Schubert's most demanding piano piece?
Wanderer Fantasy in C major (D. 760): Schubert's most technically demanding piano piece inspired the nineteenth-century piano virtuoso Franz Liszt. String Quartet No. 14 in D minor (Death and the Maiden): This string quartet, inspired by a poem by Matthias Claudius, is a chamber music standard. Schubert also wrote a German lied based on ...
What was the name of the musical soirees that Schubert sang?
Musical soirees known as Schubertiads became all the rage, during which Schubert might sing some of his own songs while accompanying himself at the piano.
How many lieder did Schubert write?
Franz Schubert (1797–1828) was an Austrian romantic composer and although he died at the age of 31, he was a prolific composer, having written some 600 lieder and nine symphonies.
What was Schubert's first masterpiece?
The same year he began teaching - 1814 - he produced his first indisputable masterpiece, 'Gretchen am Spinnrade' ('Gretchen at her spinning wheel').
What genre of music did Schubert compose?
It was in the genre of the Lied, however, that Schubert made his most indelible mark. Leon Plantinga remarks, “In his more than six hundred Lieder he explored and expanded the potentialities of the genre as no composer before him.” Prior to Schubert’s influence, Lieder tended toward a strophic, syllabic treatment of text, evoking the folksong qualities engendered by the stirrings ofRomantic nationalism. Among Schubert’s treatments of the poetry of Goethe, his settings of “Gretchen am Spinnrade” (D 118) and “Der Erlkönig” (D 328) are particularly striking for their dramatic content, forward-looking uses of harmony, and their use of eloquent pictorial keyboard figurations, such as the depiction of the spinning wheel and treadle in the piano in “Gretchen” and the furious and ceaseless gallop in “Erlkönig.” He composed music using the poems of a myriad of poets, with Goethe, Mayrhofer and Schiller being the top three most frequent, and others like Heinrich Heine, Friedrich Rückert and Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff among many others. Also of particular note are his two song cycles on the poems of Wilhelm Müller, “Die schöne Müllerin” and “Winterreise,” which helped to establish the genre and its potential for musical, poetic, and almost operatic dramatic narrative. His last song cycle published in 1828 after his death, “Schwanengesang,” is also an innovative contribution to German lieder literature, as it features poems by different poets, namely Ludwig Rellstab, Heine, and Johann Gabriel Seidl. The Wiener Theaterzeitung, writing about “Winterreise” at the time, commented that it was a work that “none can sing or hear without being deeply moved.” Antonín Dvořák wrote in 1894 that Schubert, whom he considered one of the truly great composers, was clearly influential on shorter works, especially Lieder and shorter piano works: “The tendency of the romantic school has been toward short forms, and although Weber helped to show the way, to Schubert belongs the chief credit of originating the short models of piano forte pieces which the romantic school has preferably cultivated. ] Schubert created a new epoch with the Lied. […] All other songwriters have followed in his footsteps.”
What is Schubert's regret for his death?
Schubert’s compositional style progressed rapidly throughout his short life. A feeling of regret for the loss of potential masterpieces caused by his early death at age 31 was expressed in the epitaph on his large tombstone written by his friend the poet Franz Grillparzer: “Here music has buried a treasure, but even fairer hopes.” Some have disagreed with this early view, arguing that Schubert in his lifetime did produce enough masterpieces not to be limited to the image of an unfulfilled promise. This is in particular the opinion of pianists, including Alfred Brendel, who dryly billed the Grillparzer epitaph as “inappropriate.”
How many works did Schubert write?
Schubert was remarkably prolific, writing over 1,500 works in his short career. The largest number of these are songs for solo voice and piano (over 600). He also composed a considerable number of secular works for two or more voices, namely part songs, choruses and cantatas.
What is the cliché of Schubert?
Schubert’s life seems to follow, tragically, the cliché of the Romantic artist: a suffering composer who languishes in obscurity, his genius only appreciated after his untimely death. While Schubert did enjoy the respect of a close circle of friends, his music was not widely received during his lifetime. Though we study him in our Romantic module, ...
What is Schubert's appetite for experimentation?
That “appetite for experimentation” manifests itself repeatedly in Schubert’s output in a wide variety of forms and genres , including opera, liturgical music, chamber and solo piano music, and symphonic works. Perhaps most familiarly, his adventurousness manifests itself as a notably original sense of modulation, as in the second movement of the String Quintet (D 956), where he modulates from E major, through F minor, to reach the tonic key of E major. It also appears in unusual choices of instrumentation, as in the Sonata in A minor for arpeggione and piano (D 821), or the unconventional scoring of the Trout Quintet (D 667).
What key does the string quartet in D 956 play?
Perhaps most familiarly, his adventurousness manifests itself as a notably original sense of modulation, as in the second movement of the String Quintet (D 956), where he modulates from E major, through F minor, to reach the tonic key of E major.
When was the last song cycle of Ludwig Rellstab published?
His last song cycle published in 1828 after his death, “Schwanengesang,” is also an innovative contribution to German lieder literature, as it features poems by different poets, namely Ludwig Rellstab, Heine, and Johann Gabriel Seidl.
BACKGROUND
Franz Schubert was born in Austria in 1797 as the fourth son to a middle-class family. His father was the founder and head of a successful school. The Schuberts were all highly musical and played together as a family.
DISCOVERY, PERFORMANCE, AND RECEPTION
In 1865, Huttenbrenner put the symphony in the hands of conductor Johann Von Herbeck, who was “flabbergasted” at the discovery. Von Herbeck performed the first two completed movements in Vienna, December 17th, 1865. He finished off his performance with Schubert’s 3rd Symphony in D Major, though the style did not match The Unfinished Symphony.